Phocas of Byzantium

Phocas of Byzantium (547-5 October 610) was the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 602 to 610, succeeding Maurice of Byzantium and preceding Heraclius.

Biography
Phocas was born in 547, and he was an officer in the army of Emperor Maurice of Byzantium. Viewed as a leader by his fellow soldiers, he fought against the Avar Khaganate, and he became a high-ranking general. In 602, Emperor Maurice ordered his underpaid army to make camp for winter on the unprotected side of the Danube River. The army had enough, and they marched on Constantinople with Phocas at their head. Maurice's six sons were executed before his eyes before he himself was slain, and Phocas' first act was to lower taxes. However, he made several enemies, for the Avars and Slavs that had been kept at bay by Maurice were now able to pillage the Balkans, and Shah Khusrau II of Persia waged war on his patron Maurice's murderers.

In 608, Exarch Heraclius the Elder of the Exarchate of Africa and his son (also named Heraclius) rebelled against the tyrannous Phocas, and Heraclius gathered strength. Even Phocas' own son-in-law defected with the guards, and Phocas was confronted by Heraclius. When Heraclius asked him if "this (was) how he ruled", Phocas asked him if he would rule better. Heraclius himself beheaded Phocas, and his body was burnt.